# How to get ARC readers without paying for them

Where your first advance readers come from, how to ask without breaking Amazon's rules, and how to run the whole thing free on Bervet.

Facts last checked 28 September 2026. https://bervet.com/forum/guides/188/how-to-get-arc-readers-without-paying-for-them

A book with no reviews is a hard sell. Readers look for other readers before they buy, and the first few reviews do the most work. Advance review copies (ARCs) are a common way for indie authors to have those first reviews in place for launch day.

You don't need to pay anyone to find ARC readers. This guide covers where they come from, how to ask, and how to keep them reading to the end.

### Why the first reviews matter most

Northwestern University's Spiegel Research Center studied how reviews affect online sales. It found that "the purchase likelihood for a product with five reviews is 270% greater than the purchase likelihood of a product with no reviews", and that "the marginal benefit of additional reviews begins diminishing rapidly after the first five reviews."

That study looked at products in general, not books specifically, so treat the exact number as a guide rather than a promise. The shape of it matches what authors see: going from no reviews to a handful changes more than going from fifty to sixty.

That's the job of an ARC team: to make sure a new book doesn't launch with nothing.

### First, the rules

Before you ask anyone, read [what Amazon allows with free copies](/guides/advance-review-copies). The short version: you can give away free copies, but you can't require a review in exchange or try to influence one. Ask readers what they thought, never for a good review.

If the ebook is going into Kindle Unlimited, stop giving out digital copies before you enrol. The same guide explains why.

### Where your first ARC readers come from

#### Your own readers

**Your newsletter** is the best source there is. These people already chose to hear from you, so one short email with a link is all the asking you need to do. If you don't have a list yet, [start one now](/guides/email-list-first): your next book will thank you.

**Readers who've read for you before.** Someone who finished your last advance copy is a good bet to finish this one. On Bervet, everyone you've let into an advance copy stays on your team and goes straight into your next one.

**Your social accounts.** Post the invitation where your readers already follow you. A short, plain post with one link works better than a thread of hype.

#### Reader communities

**Facebook reader groups.** Some genre groups welcome ARC invitations, usually with rules: a promo day, a weekly thread, or none at all. Read the rules, post on the right day, and post once. A group that sees the same author every day stops listening.

**Forums.** On Bervet, every public advance copy gets its own thread in the forum's Advance Copies board, posted as you, where readers can ask about it before they ask for a place.

#### ARC directories

Readers who want free advance copies go looking for them. Paid services put your book in front of those readers:

| Service | Price (checked 28 September 2026) |
|---|---|
| NetGalley | $575 for a six-month listing, plus $150 for an optional one-week Featured Title |
| BookSirens | $10 per book plus $2 per reader it finds for you (readers you invite are free), or $100 a year |

Bervet's [free advance copies](/arcs) page does the same job for nothing. A public advance copy is listed there, readers ask for a place, and you choose who gets in.

### How to ask

Keep the invitation short and honest. Say what the book is, when it's out, and what reading it involves. Leave reviews out of it, or say plainly that one is welcome and never required.

Something like:

> I'm giving away free advance copies of *Book Title*, my new fantasy novel, before it's out on 12 March. You read it free in your browser. I'd love to know what you think as you go, especially where it drags. Want one? [link]

On Bervet, the share buttons on your advance copy write a post like this for you, for X, Facebook, Bluesky, Threads and email.

### How many readers to invite

Invite more readers than the number of reviews you're hoping for. Life happens: not everyone who says yes will start, and not everyone who starts will finish.

Rather than guessing, watch. On Bervet you can see how many readers reached each chapter, where they stalled, and who finished. If a lot of readers stop at the same chapter, that's worth a look before launch, while you can still change it.

### Keep them reading

- **Make it easy to start.** No files to download, no apps to install. Every step between "yes please" and chapter one loses readers.
- **Ask for small, specific feedback.** A one-tap reaction at the end of a chapter is easier to give than an essay.
- **Tell them when it's out, once.** One message on launch day with where to find the book. On Bervet that's one button, and your readers' email addresses stay private.
- **Say thank you.** The readers who finish are the start of your readership.

### Doing it all free

Paid promotion adds up fast: a single BookBub Featured Deal can cost over $4,000, depending on genre and price (see [what promo sites cost](/guides/promo-sites)). Getting your first reviews doesn't have to.

On Bervet, hosting an advance copy is free: upload the manuscript, share one link with your readers, and see how far they get. [Give out advance copies](/dashboard/arcs/new).

### Sources

- https://spiegel.medill.northwestern.edu/how-online-reviews-influence-sales/ (Spiegel Research Center, 2017)
- https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G202101910 (KDP: free or discounted copies and reviews)
- https://www.netgalley.com/packages/order (NetGalley prices)
- https://booksirens.com/pricing (BookSirens prices)
- https://www.bookbub.com/partners/pricing (BookBub Featured Deal prices)

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